Archive for May 2011

Mick gave me a "present" of a Brooks Professional Saddle which he had failed to break. I'd bought my racing bike, a carbon fibre Ridley Orion with a synthetic saddle on it and surprise surprise had found it not bad at all, but not as comfortable for me as leather. I've used leather saddles almost […]

Gosh, doesn't a year go by quickly? Katie's gearbox broke a year ago and I haven't driven a car since then. I've pushed through the problems of a broken hip. Even with the time off, I've cycled more miles in the last year then I used to drive. I've tried not to become a fanatical […]

It was drizzling slightly with a cool, blustery wind as I cycled to the ferry terminal at Ryde to join the Autumn Tints for their latest mainland ride. I always used to walk along Ryde pier as the planks were just far enough apart to swallow a bike wheel. This was the first time I'd […]

Why oh why did we think this was a good idea! Well, in November 2010 the Etape Caledonia ride in May was AGES away, and we had HOURS as yet to train for it. I could already cycle 100 miles, and I had proved I could cycle 80 miles a day over several days, therefore […]

Roberta has just returned from her annual visit to Roberts Cycles for a service and general tune up. I sometimes think I should do more of this myself but there's no denying that, although I might achieve a reasonable competence, I am never going to reach the level of expertise displayed by the guys at […]

I've hardly cycled for over a week. Once, actually, with Mrs Taylor to test our touring bikes with the panniers on. The panniers weren't fully loaded up but they will be soon, then I can make up for a lazy few days.

Some help, perhaps, in response to: I need to address the luggage thing. Anyone fancy putting a 'What you should bring on a cycle tour post' please. It depends on length of tour, whether abroad or not, and camping, but here is what we are taking to Holland on our forthcoming 2-week cycle tour (camping):

Spring weather has been awful – bone chilling cold, rain, wet snow, cloud, winds – you name it, we’ve had it. As the sign at the local cinema says, “Where in Hell is Spring?” We decided to take last week off and ride. The original plan was to go to Virginia (where we rode in […]

The weather was kind for this year's randonnee – warm and sunny but with a stiff breeze. We expected large numbers of cyclists and we were not disappointed. 2089 people took part with the vast majority riding the 100k route and only 257 opting for the 55k circuit. Full details of the event can be […]

Brown Bike disapproved of my brilliant idea of strapping bananas to his rack. As we whizzed down Madingley Hill into Cambridge, he dropped them into his rear wheel, chewed them up and spat them out. We were joining the Cambridge Cycling Campaign and Cycle Cambridge ride to Reach Fair. It was a decent turnout, perhaps […]

Two Bank Holidays bolted each side of a weekend, not the tandem Boris gave Wills and Kate as a wedding present. Four days of unbroken sunshine and, it has to be said, a national feelgood factor in the air. Plus smoke.